Estero Bay

Difficulty: Moderate	Scenery: Good
Location: Fort Myers, Lee County	Distance: 8 mile round trip from Koreshan SHS to Mound Key. 13 miles to Lovers Key.
Atlas: Page 111 A-1
Last Update: June 2003	Canoe OK: Yes (on river)

 Photo-trip - limited details.

Description

Southwest Florida paddlers love Estero Bay and the river bearing its name. Where else in an 8 to 13 mile trip can you find cool freshwater rivers, white sand beaches, manatees, sharks, early Calusa Native American villages and explore buildings in the center of the universe?

This trip starts at the Koreshan Unity Settlement, now known as the Koreshan State Historic Site in Estero, Florida. This unique communal society was founded in the late 1800's by Dr. Cyrus Teed who proclaimed himself "Koresh" and sought to lead his followers to Utopia and create a "New Jerusalem". Besides thinking of himself as an immortal, Teed was also convinced the world was hollow and we lived on the inside of the sphere. Unfortunately for Teed, his immortality faded in 1908 with his death, and the community slowly dissolved. In 1961, the final residents of the Unity Settlement deeded the land to the State of Florida. Be sure to allocate an extra hour or two of your trip for exploring this very interesting historical site.

The park's boat ramp is a great place to put-in. Heading downstream, the river runs for 3.5 miles towards Estero Bay. The current is slow and at normal water levels can easily be traveled by novice paddlers. If the water level is substantially higher than normal, you can expect a streneous paddle up river, especially near the bay entrance.

The large island just southwest of the bay entrance is Mound Key, another historical and archaeological site. This island was literally built to heights of 30 feet from oyster shells over a period of nearly 2,000 years by the Calusa of South Florida. You can follow the Great Calusa Blueway paddle trail markers south from Mound Key to Charlie Key. The paddle trail runs through the center of the island on its way to Lovers Key. Try to time this part of the trip with high tide as the water becomes very shallow in this area. Lovers Key lies immediately south of the SR 865 bridge.

Park Rangers at the Koreshan Site will tell you this, but here is an early warning. South Florida gets very "buggy" in the summer months. Be sure to bring (and use!) insect repellent on your kayak or canoe trip. This will come in especially handy should you decide to go hiking on Mound Key or any of the other islands. Don't say we didn't warn you.

Important Hurricane Note: On August 13, 2004 Hurricane Charley struck the Sanibel / Fort Myers area. Over 70% of the mangroves were destroyed, changing the tropical landscape for many years.

Access

From Fort Myers travel south on I-75 towards Naples. Take Corkscrew Road (Exit 123, old #19) west to Tamami Trail (US 41). Go across US 41 to the Koreshan Site entrance. There is a small fee to enter the park. Be sure to ask for a river map at the entrance station.

Estero Bay Photographs

	Koreshan State Historic Site In 1894, Dr. Cyrus Teed of New York, along with followers of his new religion moved to Florida to construct a "New Jerusalem" in the small town of Estero. While Teed is long gone, his Unity Settlement exists today as a State Historic site. Fishing, boating, hiking and camping are permitted.
	Estero River Paddling on the Estero River begins at the Koreshan State Historic Site. A boat ramp is located in the northwest corner of the park. The brackish water river twists and turns its way toward the gulf for 3.5 miles. Housing developments are present for the first 2 miles of the trip.
	Great Calusa Blueway Trail The Great Calusa Blueway Trail is one of Southwest Florida's premier paddling destinations. Developed by Lee County, this trail begins near Bonita Beach and meanders its way north between the coast and barrier islands that make up Estero Bay. See the Great Calusa Blueway website for more info.
	Mound Key Sitting at the mouth of the Estero River, Mound Key has been home to humans for nearly 2,000 years. Built from Calusa shell middens, the island reaches up to 30 feet above sea level. Circumnavigation adds 2.5 miles to your trip. For those so inclined, a hiking trail starts at the northwest portion of the island.
	Lovers Key State Rec Area With a name like Lovers Key, how can you go wrong? This 712 acre park consists of four islands with canals and tidal lagoons separating the land masses. A nice beach with shaded picnic tables is just south of the SR 865 bridge on Big Carlos Pass. Bring your lover and a picnic basket!
	Wildlife Estero Bay is home to more than 300 species of birds including Eagles, Herons, Egrets, Osprey and Roseate Spoonbills. Raccoons are frequently spotted on the barrier islands, while manatee, dolphin and sharks are common in the bay. On our last trip we saw at least 5 black-tip sharks cruising the calm waters.